20 years on: The ten faces of entertainer Rudi Carrell

Twenty years ago, on July 7, 2006, Germany lost one of its most beloved and successful entertainers, Rudi Carrell, who passed away in Bremen at the age of 71. Carrell remains a memorable figure, remembered as an original with immense talent, iron discipline, and a complex personal life.

Born Rudolph Wijbrand Kesselaar in the Netherlands, Carrell experienced the harsh realities of Nazi occupation as a child. His parents bravely hid a Jewish woman, Tante Jo, for nearly a year, a dangerous act that could have led to their imprisonment in concentration camps. A childhood mishap involving an eight-year-old Carrell inadvertently revealing Tante Jo's hiding place led to her being moved for her safety.

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Rudi was Rudi, a man with great talent, iron discipline - and certainly also some abysses.

Carrell began his career in Dutch television before moving to Germany in 1965. At a time when German television entertainment was often a mix of variety shows and quizzes, Carrell revolutionized the format. His Saturday night show, "Am laufenden Band" (On the Assembly Line), captivated audiences in the 1970s, drawing up to 30 million viewers and becoming a national talking point.

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Tante Jo, come downstairs!

However, Carrell's public persona masked a demanding and disciplined individual, which he described as "classic Prussian." He expected complete dedication from his staff, and his temper could flare, leading to significant tension. The production team for "Am laufenden Band" once went on strike due to his behavior, though Carrell later apologized and treated them to a lavish dinner. He himself admitted, "I was a disgusting asshole in the studio."

Carrell was also a chain smoker, consuming up to two packs of cigarettes daily, often in a smoke-filled office. This habit was linked to the high-stress environment of producing "Am laufenden Band," where all the show's segments were conceived and executed in the week leading up to broadcast, a process known as the "Bremen six days."

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I was a disgusting asshole in the studio.